If book launches mirror their authors, then Bill Heine’s soiree tonight befits a man who has tasted most of what Oxford has to offer over the past 20 years.

The flamboyant and popular Radio Oxford presenter, who describes his age as 20 years (a broadcaster), steps out from behind the microphone for what promises to be quite a bash at the Ashmolean Museum to launch his first book, Heinstein of the Airwaves.

But this is no ordinary launch.

The Beaumont Street museum will be opened up specially for Mr Heine and while flamenco dancers strut around the galleries in garish costumes, guests will sup champagne and listen to a choir from New College before Americana band The Epstein play a set.

The book gives an account of the presenter’s life in the city over the past 20 years.

Originally from Illinois, in the US, he came to the City of Dreaming Spires to study law at Balliol College — and ended up staying.

He said: “I felt like every day I was here, I was on holiday. I loved the place.

“I love the place as much now as I did when I first came here. I know every crack in the pavements.”

He said it had been a “labour of love” writing the book over two years.

Many do not know that one of Oxford’s best-loved personalities even had a contract taken out on him in 2000, following an article he had written for The Sunday Times about a paedophile who had been released from prison, but had continued to commit crimes after his release.

Mr Heine’s article attracted the attention of the police and the man was set back to prison, where he hatched a plan to kill one of his victims, his mother and Bill.

Mr Heine said: “His life just collapsed. It altered my mind, but I get real about it in the book.

“I’ve been lucky in that I have had a reservoir of information and events that I’ve been able to dip into that has helped me with this.

“People have very vivid memories and experiences, I don’t want them to disappear in to the ether.

“I’ve been able to speak to people suffering from urban terrorism in Wood Farm to people in North Oxford about the fact there is a brothel down the road.

“But I have also been lucky enough to meet people like Colin Dexter, Desmond Morris, Philip Pullman and Sir Richard Attenborough.2 Mr Heine admitted it had been hard trying to fit everything in to the book, and said there had been some things he had regrettably had to leave out.

He added: “It’s better to have too much information to work with than not enough — and I have been surrounded by people who have been there to offer advice.”

While the book explores the DJ’s controversial ‘shark house’, Mr Heine said this subject would make a book in itself.

“This is the next book,” he said.

Tonight's Ashmolean event is invitation-only.

  • Heinstein of the Airwaves is published by Chris Andrews Publications, priced £9.99.